Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

My maternal grandfather, Richard Porter Harmer joined UK Royal Navy on the 28th July 1905, as soon as he turned 16. His first ship was the Impregnable.  The reason for joining so early is unknown to me. In June 1912 he then joined the Royal Australian Navy and began his naval career on the HMS Encounter. I suspect it was around this time that he met my grandmother, Ada Louisa Whitehouse.

Richard and Ada were married on the 19 May 1915 at the Methodist Parsonage, Leichhardt, New South Wales, right at the beginning of WW1. Nanna couldn't afford a wedding gown so wore a lovely cream coloured suit that she already owned.  Nanna Ada kept the home fires burning until he returned home in 1919. 

By the end of WW1 they had one daughter and went on to have five daughters altogether from 1917 to 1932. Sadly one passed away in 1931 from kindey disease when she was just five years old. The other four daughters are now also re-united with their parents.

Pop died from a massive heart attack when I was just 17 months old but my mother told me many stories. From her reckoning Pop was a devoted family man who adored his wife and daughters. He wasn't one to go to the pub 'with the boys', in fact the only time he drank alchohol was at Christmas. He was very well respected within his community. 

Pop was ahead of his time in that he contributed significantly to the housekeeping. Whilst in the navy he was a 'qualified bugler' as well as a tailor. Mum told me that he made all of their clothes on and old treadle sewing maching. 

Richard Porter Harmer was a good man who served both his country of birth as well as his chosen country, Australia with pride and diligence.

Richard and Ada lived at Leichhardt, New South Wales intil his passing. Ada also stayed on there until a couple of years before her passing in 1970.